New routes fuel few glitches on first school day

Cristal Romeo along with her twin sons Draven Romeo and Donavan Romeo, who will both be attending second grade, make their way towards Southwest Elementary School Thursday, the first day of school.

Photo by John Althouse/The Daily News

By Michael Todd - Michael.Todd@JDNews.com

Published: Thursday, August 28, 2014 at 11:12 AM.

Updated at 5:25 p.m.

There were ninja-turtle backpacks, some untied shoe laces and a mohawk.

About 712 students filled Southwest Elementary School on Thursday morning — the first day of class this year at most of Onslow County’s 37 campuses.

New bus schedules started the school year with minor delays at Dixon Middle School, Principal Leigh Bizzell said.

“It was a little confusing this morning because the start time is different,” Bizzell said. “And we had so many new kids we had a few running late. A few had to make double routes to go pick up some that were left, but they all got here within 5, 10 minutes.

Dixon Middle School students started class at 8:25 a.m., according to the school’s website.

Some bus routes were extended and bus stops changed to increase bus efficiency amid reduced state funding, Onslow County Schools spokeswoman Suzie Ulbrich said. She added that all county high schools started at 7:15 a.m. and shared bell schedules to coordinate Onslow View classes, which enable students to take classes from teachers at other campuses.

There were ninja-turtle backpacks, some untied shoe laces and a mohawk.

About 712 students filled Southwest Elementary School on Thursday morning — the first day of class this year at most of Onslow County’s 37 campuses.

New bus schedules started the school year with minor delays at Dixon Middle School, Principal Leigh Bizzell said.

“It was a little confusing this morning because the start time is different,” Bizzell said. “And we had so many new kids we had a few running late. A few had to make double routes to go pick up some that were left, but they all got here within 5, 10 minutes.

Dixon Middle School students started class at 8:25 a.m., according to the school’s website.

Some bus routes were extended and bus stops changed to increase bus efficiency amid reduced state funding, Onslow County Schools spokeswoman Suzie Ulbrich said. She added that all county high schools started at 7:15 a.m. and shared bell schedules to coordinate Onslow View classes, which enable students to take classes from teachers at other campuses.

Also new this year: No student was supposed to be picked up by a bus before 6 a.m.

“We absolutely had some bus glitches, but we ask our parents to be patient,” Ulbrich said. “(The glitches) usually get worked out in the first few days.”

A couple of buses broke down, but no major delays ensued, she added.

Overall, the county’s first academic day had few, “normal” glitches, Ulbrich said.

For parents and students, the first day back to school concluded the summer experience.

Quincy Allen, 9, of Jacksonville began the fifth grade Thursday. He was ready to tackle math, which he calls his “weak point.

“I like science and potions,” he said, adding he might take interest in chemistry.

The orderly procession happens every morning at the school, Principal Gail Normanly said.

“Our parents know our routine and it goes very smoothly,” she added. “We unload about 300 cars in about 10 to 15 minutes.”

It didn’t take much longer than that on Thursday morning.

About 8 a.m., cars were in full flow, Normanly said. Teachers and teacher assistants greet each student by opening the doors of all vehicles, grouped in four and five, that pass along the circular driveway.

Normanly greeted many students and parents by first name with “hello,” “good morning” and “welcome back.”

When one girl slowed and looked around curiously, Normanly reached for the girl’s hand and walked her into the school with the others.

“This is how you’re going to do it every day,” Normanly told the child, whose eyes focused on the path ahead.

Two boys walked by and one had a mohawk.

“You’re looking different,” Normanly said.

Half of the school’s kindergarten students started Thursday. They phase the students to manage the transition to an academic life. Among other lessons, kindergarten students learn the proper way to carry trays in the cafeteria, she added.

Susan Silance walked briskly into the school while holding hands with daughters, Madison, a first-grader and MaKenzie, a kindergartner.

She was happy to see them start class.

“People ask ‘Why are you so happy for your kids to go to school?’” Silance asked. “I go ‘You know what? After a while of parents and kids being together, they need that break. Both of us do.’

“I’m very excited,” Silance said. “My son graduated high school in June so this is the first time I get to have a complete break.”

About 9 a.m. Thursday, Dixon High School Principal Vikki Childress’ voice filled the halls during a morning announcement, which offered lessons that contrast those in elementary school.

“Also a reminder, students, about our dress code,” Childress said during the announcement. “Ladies, the dress code, your stuff is supposed to be to the knees. That is to the knee not above the knee. It’s to the knee. Not 5 inches above the knee. Not 2 inches above the knee. To the knee. If you are wearing a high-low dress, you need to make sure your slip is to the knee so the sheer stuff does not work. Also make sure, ladies, all undergarments are not visible and that we watch the lengths of some of our tank tops. ... We’ll try to do better tomorrow.”

Childress said new this year’s goals include exceeding state academic averages.

New this year are American History 2 classes, which follow the second half of what was one history class. The new class, she said, begins in the early 1900s.

The first period of classes at Dixon High School this year include one Connect View class. Those students are studying French 1 taught by a teacher at Swansboro High School.

Nine students are enrolled in that class.

“It worked very well this morning,” Childress said. “It’s really a good way to get foreign languages out,” Childress said. “Because it’s really hard to get foreign language teachers.”

The school has taught Mandarin for five years but welcomes a new teacher in that subject this year.

Three new English teachers and a new assistant principal are with Dixon High this year, she added.

It was quiet at 9:30 a.m. at Dixon Middle School.

Bizzell said she is excited about a class called BU 20, which is a business-prep course similar to accounting.

“We haven’t taught that here before,” Bizzell said, adding that the class is being launched by a teacher who studied a business field. “It sort of prepares them for personal finance next door,” Bizzell said. “It gives them a jump start.”

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New bus routes in the Stump Sound area caused minor confusion, but overall, no major problems accompanied the school year’s official start this morning in Onslow County, school spokeswoman Suzie Ulbrich said.

“There were a few glitches with the bus schedule and the bus drivers and their routes, but other than that — which is expected — today was not unusual,” Ulbrich said.

She said at Dixon Elementary School, some last-minute route changes caused similar “confusion out there.”

The school system this year changed its bus schedules to limit the time children spend on buses and to improve fuel costs, Assistant Superintendent of Auxiliary Services Steve Myers said during a recent Onslow County Board of Education meeting.

Onslow County schools’ new security system links all classrooms to a digital map that indicates the security level per room. Teachers had the first experience of signing into the new system Thursday morning with occasional delays, school officials said.